Machine for washing bottles



Filed Feb. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 20, 1932. GATCHELL 1,877,843

MACHINE FOR WASHING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qmentoz i 0. G'ATC/Vill,

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Patented Sept. 20, 1932 LUNITED STATES FREDERICK n. GATCHELL, or BIN GHAMTON NEW yon]:

ACHINE roa wasmne rorrnns Application filed February 23, 1929. Seria1 Noi342,16 8. V

This invention is directed toan improvement in bottle washing machines, wherein a plurality of bottles while in crated form may be simultaneously washed interiorly {a and exteriorly. Y

The primary object of the present invention is the pro-vision of a plurality of wash- V ingtubes grouped within'a tank open to, the washing fluid under pressure, the group-' I of bottles to be moved downwardly to cause the respective tubes to enter the aligned bottles for the admission of washing-fluid under pressure to the interiorof the bottles. A further objectis the provision of a platform on which the inverted bottles are arranged and which is designed for manuallycontrolled vertical movement within, the washing tank, the platform being provided fgo with means to "insure a correct placement of the bottles in alinement with the tubes.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying. drawings, in which .Fi 1 is a view in elevation ofthe imb V i '35 proved bottle washlng machlne, the tubes being shown in dotted lines. V,

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the machine. f 1

The bottle-washing machine comprises a metal tank 1, supported on a suitable base 2, a series of washing tubes 3 being verti cally arranged Within the tank. The lower ends of the tubes connect with a manifold and is formed with a plurality of small openings or outlets 5.

Aplatform 6 is mounted for vertical move-o ment in the tank, being guided in this movement on rods 7, depending from a frame 8 at-the upper end of the tank. The weight of the platform and bottles carried thereby is compensated by weights 9, having cables 10, terminally connected to the platform and passing over idlers 11 carried by the frame 8. Beyond the idlers, the cables are wrapped over drums 12, fixed in a shaft 13, one end of which hasan operating handle or crank mg of the tubes permitting an inverted crate 4:, while the upper end of each tube terminates near the upper end of the tank 14. Thus the platform may be moved veiy tically'withinthe tank by means of the handle 14 withlittle labor; 1 The platform is formed with openings 15, eaoh'of which is aligned with a particular washing tube 3', so that as the platform is 5 lowered the tubes pass through the openings 15, 'A- cup-shaped retainer 16 is arranged on the platform in alinement with each opening 15' "therein, the retainers being perforated to permit the passage of the tubes 3 therethrough'," and being shaped to more or' less snugly receive the mouths of the bottles to bewashed. 7 l A motor driven pump 17 is mounted onthe base '2,immediately beyond the tank, thfe I suctionline 18 of "which leads from a source I of washing fluid supply, as 19, and the presrespect thereto, are oppositely extendi mm 807 ,7 7

ways 22 and 23. These runways are supported beyond the tank on uprights 24,- and provide one for the convenient delivery of the crated bottles to the platform, and the other forreception of the bottles after wash- 7 ing. The. latter, may if desired,'ha've a per forated section 25, by which the washing fluid draining from the bottles may be returned to i v v the supply tank 19.

The bottles in their crated form, that is within the cells of the crate or container in which such bottles are handled as a unit, are placed in inverted form on the platform 6,

each bottle being arranged within oneof .the retainers 16. The platform is then low- 'er'ed through use of the handle 14, so that.

the upper end of each washing tube 3 enters one of the bottles. The pump is then started, forcing the washing fluid through the tubes 3 and outlets'5 with considerable force,

and thoroughly searching and cleansing the interior of each bottle. By moving the platform through several reciprocations, the washing fluid in the tank will reach and cleanse the exterior of the bottles. After washing, the crate is placed on'the runway 23 for draining.

The retainers 16 and of course the tubes i are groupedso as to effectively cooperate with the bottles as the latter are arranged in the crate, thus requiring-only thatlthe' crate of bottles be inverted onto the platform 6, and the bottle mouths placed in theretainers 16'.

The runways facilitate the easy successive handling of the crated bottles,wl1ile the com-" pensating weights 9 render the operation-oi? the platform with the crated bottles a matter of little effort.

thus described the invention, what is claimed. as :new,,is

Apparatusof the character stated,.compr-is-- ing; an, elbngatedrectangular frame having; at the top-a crate runway,.a: tank interrupting the runway and having its mouth flushth'ere with, amanifold below the tank, means for supplying fluid under pressure tolthemanifold, fluid, discharge connections extending from'the manifold upwardly in the tank to Y nearthem outh thereof,,acrate receiving-platform! mounted for vertical movement on said flu d discharge connections and arranged so.

that inverted. bottles-carried. by the crate will telescope the-respective fluid discharge connections, a fluid supply tank' flanking the:

main tank openv to drainage from therun-wa'y and operatively connected with said means for suppl yingrthe manif0ld,,and a fluid return connecting the main. tank with thesupply tank p In testimony whereof, Iaflix my signature;

FREDERICK D. GATCHELL. 

